Binocular harness system
A binocular harness system having a pair of shoulder straps, a pair of upper torso straps, and a carrying pouch. The carrying pouch has a main body and a removable hood. The front side of the main body has a loop fastener panel that extends laterally across the front side. The hood has a front panel, a secondary panel that is configured to form a back and two sides of the hood, and an elongated pocket that extends along a rear edge and at least a portion of each side edge of the secondary panel. The elongated pocket contains a rod, and an elastomeric cord passes through a central bore in the rod, side portions of the elongated pocket, loops situated on either side of the back side of the main body, and conduits made of nylon webbing situated on or proximate to the bottom panel of the main body.
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Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), this application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 63/021,199, filed on May 7, 2020.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates generally to the field of outdoor recreational gear, and more particularly, to an adjustable harness system for carrying binoculars in the field.
2. Description of the Related ArtU.S. Pat. No. 3,782,614 (Campisi, 1974) discloses a binocular pocket that is adapted to be attached to an upper torso garment. The pocket comprises a body member and a flap member that is detachably attached to the body member. The flap member has an opening intermediate to the sides of the flap member to permit the binocular straps to pass through and rest around the neck of the wearer of the garment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,328 (Smithbaker, III el at, 2000) provides a carrying case for binoculars in which a tubular-shaped main body formed of a stretchable and resilient material is undersized in relation to the binoculars. The main body has openings on either end for exposing the binocular lenses and an aperture for exposing a focus adjustment mechanism during use. Each of the openings and aperture has a removable closure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,184 (Hancock et al., 2005) discloses a harness system for holding an article such as binoculars. The system comprises a pair of shoulder straps, a pair of underarm straps, and a case disposed on the front of the wearer. The case has a cover with a substantially rigid lip hinged to the top edge that pivots into the space between the article and the body of the user. The cover incorporates a face sheet that interconnects the spaced apart sides of the cover to which the underarm straps are connected. The face sheet is curved to form a bottom edge that is situated beneath the binoculars and a top edge that extends above the upper end of the binoculars.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,872,553 (Erlandson, 2018) provides a support system and carrying case for binoculars. The system includes a neck strap and carrying case with a top opening. The carrying case is supported by a pair of elastomeric case support straps, each of which is coupled to an intermediate portion of the neck strap. A strap assembly is coupled to the lower portion of the case and attachable to a belt or garment of the user. The invention further comprises a case lid with a closure fastener that is releaseable upon downward movement of the case.
U.S. Pat. No. D271540 (Williams, 1983) depicts a binocular case design comprised of a relatively hard case with top and rear covers that are hingedly removable. This design does not incorporate a harness system.
U.S. Pat. No. D601341 (Arman, 2009) illustrates a binocular case design comprised of three parts, the first of which fits around a center portion of the binoculars, and the second and third of which form separate covers for each end of the binoculars. The second and third parts of the cover are joined to each other and to the second part so that they can be pulled off the ends of the binoculars without falling off. This design does not incorporate a harness system.
U.S. Pat. No. D853111 (Lee el al., 2019) shows a binocular case design featuring a purse-like compartment on the front of the wearer and an elongated, zippered pocket on the back side of the wearer. The purse-like compartment includes outer side pockets and horizontal rows of nylon webbing configured to facilitate the attachment of implements. This design incorporates a harness system.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a binocular harness system comprising: a pair of shoulder straps; a pair of upper torso straps; and a carrying pouch; wherein the carrying pouch comprises a main body and a removable hood; wherein the main body comprises a front side, a back side, two side walls that join the front side to the back side, and a bottom panel; wherein the front side of the main body comprises a panel of loop fastener that extends laterally across a width of the front side; wherein the hood comprises a front panel, a secondary panel that is configured to form a back and two sides of the hood, and an elongated pocket that extends along a rear edge and at least a portion of each side edge of the secondary panel; wherein the elongated pocket contains a rod; and wherein an elastomeric cord passes through a central bore in the rod, through side portions of the elongated pocket, through loops situated on either side of the back side of the main body, and through conduits made of nylon webbing situated on or proximate to the bottom panel of the main body. In a preferred embodiment, the main body further comprises a floor with foam padding configured to protect an article contained within the main body. Preferably, the foam padding is removably attached to the floor with hook-and-loop fastener.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention further comprises a fastener loop made of nylon webbing situated directly underneath the loop fastener panel on a right side of the front side of the main body and a fastener loop made of nylon webbing situated directly underneath the loop fastener panel on a left side of the front side of the main body. Preferably, the bottom panel of the main body comprises a loop fastener made of nylon webbing situated on a right side of the bottom panel and a fastener loop made of nylon webbing situated on a left side of the bottom panel. The present invention preferably further comprises a pull tab that is attached to an outside center of the elongated pocket. The present invention preferably further comprises a side pocket on an outside of each of the two side walls and an elastomeric member that extends across a top of each side pocket.
In a preferred embodiment, each upper torso strap is attached to one side of the back side of the main body with a buckle, one part of which passes through the loop on a right or left side of the back side of the main body. Preferably, the shoulder straps are joined to the upper torso straps by a back member. The shoulder straps are preferably adjustable in length via ratchet buckles located on distal ends of the shoulder straps.
In a preferred embodiment, the distal ends of the shoulder straps are attached to a top edge of a back plate, and a back face of the back plate is covered with a panel of loop fastener material. Preferably, the elastomeric cord makes a full loop that terminates at a cord fastener that joins two ends of the elastomeric cord together and is situated between the conduits. The present invention preferably comprises a foam pad that is situated between the back side of the main body and a mesh pocket. The present invention preferably comprises a foam pad on an inside of the front side of the main body.
In a preferred embodiment, an inside surface of the back side of the main body is covered with a hook fastener material. In another preferred embodiment, a strip of hook fastener material extends across an inside front end of the hood.
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- 1 Shoulder strap
- 2 Upper torso strap
- 3 Carrying pouch
- 4 Main body (of carrying pouch)
- 5 Removable hood
- 6 Front side (of main body)
- 7 Back side (of main body)
- 8 Side wall (of main body)
- 9 Floor (of main body)
- 10 Foam padding
- 11 Loop fastener panel
- 12 Fastener loop
- 13 Front panel
- 14 Secondary panel
- 15 Elongated pocket
- 16 Pull tab
- 17 Side pocket
- 18 Elastomeric member
- 19 Buckle
- 20 Loop
- 21 Elastomeric cord
- 22 Rod
- 23 Side portion (of elongated pocket)
- 24 Conduit
- 25 Mesh pocket
- 26 Back plate
- 27 Back member
- 28 Ratchet buckle
- 29 Back plate extension
- 30 Front face (of back plate)
- 31 Back face (of back plate)
- 32 Loop fastener material
- 33 Cord fastener
- 34 Hook fastener material
- 35 Strip of hook fastener material
Each upper torso strap 2 is attached to one side (right and left) of the back side 7 of the main body 4 with a buckle 19, one part of which passes through a loop 20 formed of nylon webbing. The upper torso straps 2 can be decoupled from the loops 20 by unfastening the buckles 19. As shown more fully in
The length of the shoulder straps 1 is also adjustable via ratchet buckles 28 located on the distal ends (that is, the end farthest from the back member 27) of the Shoulder straps 1. The distal ends of the shoulder straps 1 are attached to the top edge of the back plate 26 on either side of the back plate extension 29. The back plate 26 and back plate extension 29 are comprised of a relative rigid material (such as plastic) and overlaid with the same canvas material as the hood 5 and carrying case 3. The back plate extension 29 protrudes upwardly from the center of the top edge of the back plate 26. As shown in this figure, the front face 30 of the back plate 26 is comprised of canvas material, whereas the entire back face 31 of the back plate 26 is covered with a panel of loop fastener material 32 (see
In a similar manner, the position of the hood 5 relative to the front side 6 of the main body 4 may also be adjusted. A strip of hook fastener material 35 extends across the inside front end of the hood 5. This strip of hook fastener material 35 can be positioned on the loop fastener panel 11, as needed, to accommodate smaller or larger sizes of binoculars. Once the back plate 26 and hood 5 have been adjusted for the size of the binoculars, the tension on the elastomeric cord 21 can be adjusted via the cord fastener 33 to provide an appropriate amount of tension. Lastly, the length of the shoulder and upper torso straps 1, 2 can be adjusted to fit the wearer.
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A binocular harness system comprising:
- (a) a pair of shoulder straps;
- (b) a pair of upper torso straps; and
- (c) a carrying pouch;
- wherein the carrying pouch comprises a main body and a removable hood;
- wherein the main body comprises a front side, a back side, two side walls that join the front side to the back side, and a bottom panel;
- wherein the front side of the main body comprises a panel of loop fastener that extends laterally across a width of the front side;
- wherein the hood comprises a front panel, a secondary panel that is configured to form a back and two sides of the hood, and an elongated pocket that extends along a rear edge and at least a portion of each side edge of the secondary panel;
- wherein the elongated pocket contains a rod; and
- wherein an elastomeric cord passes through a central bore in the rod, through side portions of the elongated pocket, through loops situated on either side of the back side of the main body, and through conduits made of nylon webbing situated on or proximate to the bottom panel of the main body.
2. The binocular harness system of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a floor with foam padding configured to protect m article contained within the main body.
3. The binocular harness system of claim 2, wherein the foam padding is removably attached to the floor with hook-and-loop fastener.
4. The binocular harness system of claim 1, further comprising a fastener loop made of nylon webbing situated directly underneath the loop fastener panel on a right side of the front side of the main body and a fastener loop made of nylon webbing situated directly underneath the loop fastener panel on a left side of the front side of the main body.
5. The binocular harness system of claim 1, wherein the bottom panel of the main body comprises a loop fastener made of nylon webbing situated on a right side of the bottom panel and a fastener loop made of nylon webbing situated on a left side of the bottom panel.
6. The binocular harness system of claim 1, further comprising a pull tab that is attached to an outside center of the elongated pocket.
7. The binocular harness system of claim 1, further comprising a side pocket on an outside of each of the two side walls and an elastomeric member that extends across a top of each side pocket.
8. The binocular harness system of claim 1, wherein each upper torso strap is attached to one side of the back side of the main body with a buckle, one part of which passes through the loop on a right or left side of the back side of the main body.
9. The binocular harness system of claim 8, wherein the shoulder straps are joined to the upper torso straps by a back member.
10. The binocular harness system of claim 9, wherein the shoulder straps are adjustable in length via ratchet buckles located on distal ends of the shoulder straps.
11. The binocular harness system of claim 10, wherein the distal ends of the shoulder straps are attached to a top edge of a back plate; and
- wherein a back face of the back plate is covered with a panel of loop fastener material.
12. The binocular harness system of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric cord makes a full loop that terminates at a cord fastener that joins two ends of the elastomeric cord together and is situated between the conduits.
13. The binocular harness system of claim 1, further comprising a foam pad that is situated between the back side of the main body and a mesh pocket.
14. The binocular harness system of claim 1, further comprising a foam pad on an inside of the front side of the main body.
15. The binocular harness system of claim 1, wherein an inside surface of the back side of the main body is covered with a hook fastener material.
16. The binocular harness system of claim 1, wherein a strip of hook fastener material extends across an inside front end of the hood.
3782614 | January 1974 | Campisi |
D271540 | November 29, 1983 | Williams |
5016797 | May 21, 1991 | Rowledge |
6095328 | August 1, 2000 | Smithbaker, III et al. |
6926184 | August 9, 2005 | Hancock |
7036943 | May 2, 2006 | Brewer |
7059503 | June 13, 2006 | Andersen |
D601341 | October 6, 2009 | Arman |
8720681 | May 13, 2014 | Hancock |
9210978 | December 15, 2015 | Hunt |
9872553 | January 23, 2018 | Erlandson |
D853111 | July 9, 2019 | Lee et al. |
11284691 | March 29, 2022 | Rosen |
20040140335 | July 22, 2004 | Hancock et al. |
20060151563 | July 13, 2006 | Bussard |
20210015228 | January 21, 2021 | Burns |
102011017410 | May 2014 | DE |
Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 25, 2021
Date of Patent: Oct 18, 2022
Patent Publication Number: 20210345759
Assignee: Stone Glacier, Inc. (Bozeman, MT)
Inventors: Kurt Michael Racicot (Bozeman, MT), Jeffrey Robert Sposito (Bozeman, MT)
Primary Examiner: Nathan J Newhouse
Assistant Examiner: Matthews T. Theis
Application Number: 17/239,633
International Classification: A45F 3/04 (20060101); A45C 11/08 (20060101); A45F 3/14 (20060101);